Football – or soccer in the U.S. – is far and away the most popular sport in Somalia, and in Yemen, too. So when we asked young Yemeni refugees what sport they’d like to play more of, let’s just say we weren’t exactly surprised…
In all 40 of the schools where ARC works throughout Mogadishu, Yemeni boys said, “MORE soccer, please!”
We wanted to do something not just to spark more play, but to keep the ball rolling.
“We gave the students resources to start their own clubs,” said Mohamud from the ARC team. “More than anything else, these boys like taking time outside of school to play in competitive football matches. Now they can do that.”
Practice makes perfect, and playing more often helps these kids hone their skills – and perhaps become talented players.
These sporting opportunities are new to many of the schools. But they’re already helping kids stay in shape, and be more engaged in both schoolwork and daily life.
“I like playing football with my classmates and friends,” said Abdulkader, a particularly skilled footballer. “It makes us have new friends in different schools, too.”
This change made possible by the Margaret and Jennifer Kress Foundation, Inc.
